mummy
mummy Lexical Profile
mummy Game Scores & Validity
• noun
British An affectionate term used by or to children for their mother.
"The little girl ran across the playground to give her mummy a big hug."
A dead human or animal body that has been preserved by natural processes or artificial embalming, especially one from ancient Egypt wrapped in bandages.
"The archaeologists carefully excavated the tomb to reveal a perfectly preserved Egyptian mummy."
• verb
To preserve a corpse by embalming and wrapping it in cloth, or to cause to dry up and shrivel into a preserved state.
"The ancient priests would mummy the remains of the pharaohs to ensure their safe passage to the afterlife."
Word Nuance & Usage
The word has two distinct primary meanings depending on region: in British and Commonwealth English, it is the standard affectionate term for 'mother' (equivalent to the American 'mommy'), while globally it refers to an embalmed corpse.
• Rhymes for mummy
Word Origin & Etymology
The sense meaning 'preserved body' derives from Arabic 'mūmiyā'' (bitumen, mummy), from Persian 'mūm' (wax). The sense meaning 'mother' is an alteration of 'mammy' or a diminutive of 'mum', emerging in the 19th century.